WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — A West Melbourne convenience store owner is facing two felony charges after police say he intentionally hit a 14-year-old boy riding an electric bike, then drove away without calling for help.
Police identified the store owner as 32-year-old Kavan Patel, who owns the Corner Store on Wickham Road.
According to investigators, the incident began at 4:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, when Patel received an alert that someone was attempting to break into his convenience store.
Police responded to investigate the attempted burglary and began searching for a suspect.
During their search, officers found a 14-year-old boy matching the suspect’s description lying unresponsive in a ditch. Investigators later learned Patel had followed the teenager from his store to the intersection of Cocoanut Grove and Olive Grove avenues.
According to the arrest affidavit, Patel admitted to intentionally striking the teenager with his vehicle while traveling approximately 30 mph.
Police say Patel then drove away without stopping or calling for help. The 14-year-old remains in critical condition.
“He left this individual to almost die on the side of the road. That’s the most frustrating part about this,” said West Melbourne Police Lieutenant Graig Erenstoft.
Investigators say Patel initially did not tell them the full story about what happened.
“The detective who was interviewing the store owner for the burglary realized that he wasn’t telling all the truth here. So he pressed him for more information and that’s when he fessed up,” Erenstoft said.
On Tuesday evening, the convenience store remained open for business. Customers could be seen entering and leaving the store, where panels covered portions of the front door where glass had been broken.
Stephanie Goncalves, an employee at the convenience store, described Patel as a compassionate and honest person.
“It’s just crazy,” Goncalves said. “This is not what I expected at all.”
Patel is charged with aggravated battery and leaving the scene of a crash involving serious bodily injury. Police told Channel 9 that additional charges could be filed as the investigation continues.
Patel is being held without bond.
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